EW Pugin Gazetteer: B

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CHRONOLOGICAL GAZETTEER OF THE WORKS OF E.W. PUGIN – ARCHITECT
1834–1875

This article is undergoing continual refinement, and is updated periodically.
The author can be contacted at: puewgin@talktalk.net

B. Convents, Convent Churches/Chapels & Monasteries/Friaries

Nine different religious orders of nuns (both enclosed and otherwise) are represented in the convents/convent chapels designed by EW Pugin, predominant amongst which were those for the Sisters of Mercy. The number of monasteries (excluding 'convents' for the Irish Christian Brothers, which are really Community Houses, and, as such, properly belong to Section D) totals 5, with only one in Ireland, all but one of which are still functioning.

In England, EW Pugin's most significant convents (both for enclosed Benedictine nuns) are those at Oulton [B1], in Staffordshire (dating from the very beginning of his career) and at Stanbrook [B22], Worcestershire (which extends into his final phase). The tower of the abbey church at Stanbrook (with its dominating stair turret of which EW Pugin much disapproved) does not feature in EW Pugin's design (which specified instead a bell-coted W. end) but was a 'last minute' change he was obliged to make; the abutment of the tower to the end of the nave is, accordingly, less than satisfactory. Whilst, interiorally, Oulton has escaped the ravages of liturgical re-ordering, the same sadly does not obtain in the case of Stanbrook where the original altar and reredos of the abbey church no longer survive, having first suffered mutilation already in the late 1930s (long before Vatican II), and then completely removed (together with J H Powell's screen) in 1971, when the Minton encaustic floor tiles (designed by EW Pugin & JH Powell) in the chancel were replaced by ones similar to those often found in public lavatories. In other respects, however, the furnishings of this fine church are remarkably well preserved, the Minton floor tiles in the nuns choir (also designed by EW Pugin & JH Powell), the Kauri pine choir stalls and the organ case (carved by W Farmer of Farmer & Brindley) meriting special mention; the design of the organ case is the same as that which originally contained the pipe-work of the organ at Meanwood House – see [G9].

Another significant English (unenclosed) convent (for the Sisters of Charity) that no longer functions as such is that at Bartestree, Herefordshire, which was abandoned in 1992, and is now converted into apartments.

EW Pugin's Irish oeuvre (in collaboration with GC Ashlin) contains two of the very few examples of essays in non-Gothic design – namely, B13 & B14 – the latter being one of the 4 Irish convents designed for the Sisters of Mercy, all of which are now closed.

Good examples of EW Pugin's monastic buildings in England are provided by those (for the Benedictines) at Belmont [B4] and Ramsgate [B7], both of which are characterised by their acutely gabled dormer windows. Amongst his Irish commissions (again in collaboration with GC Ashlin), Killarney Franciscan Friary [B12] is a good example.

1	1853–54: Oulton, Staffs. – St Mary's Abbey (OSB nuns): comprises Abbey Church, Chapter House, cloisters, monastic buildings & gatehouse; convent itself is earlier, and is not by EW Pugin.
2	1854: Marlow, Bucks. – Convent: execution of AWN Pugin's design for a convent adjacent to St Peter's Church. The nuns left in 1870, when the property became a Catholic school, the original convent building becoming the school master's house. Since the 1970s, the school premises have been used as the parish rooms, and the house has been divided into 2 flats.
3	1856: Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland – St John's Convent of Mercy: completion of the chapel range of AWN Pugin's design dating from 1846; the convent was sold in 1996, and since 2006 the chapel has been converted into a public library, and the convent buildings used as Civic offices.
4	1857–60: Belmont, Herefords. – Belmont Monastery (OSB): see also A7 & D7 and also A6 & D9, and R O'Donnell, TP, Vol. 1(9), 1999.
5	1859–64: Ravenhurst, Birmingham, W. Midlands – St Anne's Convent (Sisters of Mercy): building commenced. Later additions, including chapel, sacristy, almonry & refectory are later (1878–80), and by TR Donnelly, but are possibly a realization of earlier sketches by EW Pugin. The entire site was destroyed by bombing in WWII.
6	1860: Wolverhampton, W. Midlands – St Mary & St John's Convent (Sisters of Mercy): in St John's Square; building (including the chapel) still exists, but is no longer a convent.
7	1860–61: Ramsgate, Kent – St Augustine's Abbey (OSB): The Benedictine Order took possession in 1856; until 1896, the Abbey was a Priory. Later easterly extensions (c.1880) are by PP Pugin, and the separate Library building (1926) is by C Purcell.
8	1862 (with GC Ashlin): Fethard, Co. Tipperary, Ireland – – Convent (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary): a new convent was built 1869–71, but it is uncertain whether EW Pugin & GC Ashlin were involved.
9	1862–63: Bartestree, Herefords. – Our Lady of Charity and Refuge (Sisters of Charity): founded by R Biddulph Phillips of Longworth. Convent extended by PP Pugin in 1885. The Chapel of St Anne (c.1865–67) is not by EW Pugin, but is by B Bucknall. Entire site abandoned in 1992, and is now been converted into apartments; see R O'Donnell, TP, Vol. 2(1), p.19, 2000.
10	1862–64: Hoxton Square, London – Augustinian Priory (OSA): attached to A53 (see also E29).
11	1863–67: W. Gorton, Greater Manchester – Franciscan Friary (OFM Recollects): The W. facade was demolished in the 1970s, and the friary vacated in 1989; only the E. & S. wings remain, and are currently being restored for (secular) community social use. See also A72.
12	1864 (with GC Ashlin): Killarney, Ireland – Franciscan Friary (OFM) of the Most Holy Trinity.
13	1866 (with GC Ashlin): Mount Anville, Co. Dublin, Ireland – Convent Chapel (Society of the Sacred Heart nuns): in Classical (Italianated) style.
14	1866–67: (with GC Ashlin): Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland – Convent Chapel (Sisters of Mercy): in Romanesque style to match existing buildings.
15	1866–68 (with GC Ashlin): Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Ireland – Convent Chapel (Sisters of Mercy): closed 2003, sold 2004.
16	1867: Stourbridge, Worcs. – Convent (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary): attached to A43. The Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle took over in 1872, and remained until c 1990, when the property was sold for conversion into apartments.
17	1867–68: St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, Sussex – Convent Chapel (Society of the Holy Child Jesus nuns): dedicated to St Michael & all the Holy Angels. Nave aisles conform to a pre-existing ground-plan (defined by partly constructed walls up to & including the tops of the window arches) of a church by an unknown architect, dedicated to All Souls, the building of which had ceased in 1843, 5 years before the arrival of the nuns. Chapel closed in 1976 (but still exists) when the nuns moved to their Order's convent in Mayfield, E. Sussex – see H25. Lady Altar by Pugin & Pugin.
18	1868: Ford, Liverpool, Merseyside – Good Shepherd Convent (Good Shepherd nuns) now demolished c. 1972/3.
19	1868 Nechells, Birmingham, W. Midlands – St Joseph's Convent (Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle). closed 1953, but the buildings remain.
20	1868 (with GC Ashlin): Hampton, Drumcondra, Co. Dublin, Ireland – Monastery Chapel (Order of Discalced Carmelite nuns).
21	1869: Hanwell, W.London – St Mary's Convent (originally 'Hospital'): founded by Baroness Weld. Sisters of St Joseph of Peace bought the property in 1921and used it as a convent until 1971 when it was demolished on account of structural problems; it was replaced (on the same site) in 1973.
22	1869–1871: Callow End, Worcs. – Stanbrook Abbey (OSB nuns): comprises Abbey Church of Our Lady of Compassion and cloisters connecting with earlier buildings. EWP was obliged to replace the intended bell-coted W. end by a tower that abuts the nave somewhat awkwardly. [It had already been necessary for him to significantly alter his original (superior) design for the church – see P Howell, Ecclesiology Today, No. 38, pp. 37–42, 2007.] The reredos (which was gilded & coloured in 1878) was simplified and reduced in 1937–38, and completely removed in 1971, together with the High Altar. The L-shaped convent ranges are later (1878), and are by PP Pugin. The entire property was put up for sale in 2006.
23	1869 (with GC Ashlin)–73: Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland – Loretto Convent Chapel (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary): completed by Ashlin.
24	nd: Stanhope St, Dublin, Ireland – Convent (Sisters of Charity): possibly incorporates St Mary's Training School.

Uncorroborated work

i	1859 (with J Murray)–1862: Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland – Our Lady's Convent (Sisters of Mercy): excluding chapel (see K8), which is of 1877–78, and is by SF Haynes.